August 2014

Wellness Tip

Coconut oil is great for your hair, skin and possibly some aging issues. Some of the most recent research has come from people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, with reports of people improving or even reversing the effects of Alzheimer’s by using coconut oil, as drug trials on Alzheimer’s drugs continue to fail.

Alzheimer’s is now seen as a type 3 form of diabetes, and for years we have seen positive results from people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in using coconut oil.

We have also seen a lot of reports of coconut oil health benefits from those suffering from hypothryroidism, as coconut oil helps boost metabolism and raise body temperatures to promote thyroid health. Restricting carbohydrates and increasing coconut oil in the diet has also led many to report losing weight with coconut oil.

Candida sufferers also report health benefits with coconut oil as research now confirms, and those suffering from various skin diseases are also seeing tremendous health benefits by applying coconut oil directly on the skin.

The benefits of coconut oil for healthy hair are also well known, and other health benefits of coconut oil included fighting off bacterial infections and viruses. Coconut oil is also increasingly being seen to benefit athletes and fitness trainers giving them an advantage in sustaining energy levels longer without drugs or stimulants.

While some people falsely accuse coconut oil of being a “fad,” the fact is that it is a traditional oil that has been consumed for thousands of years in tropical cultures, and the research on the health benefits of coconut oil has existed for a very long time. It is always recommended to consult with a medical physician or a nutrition specialist to ensure any this.

Ontario moves ahead with Ontario Retirement Pension Plan supplement

The Government of Ontario is moving ahead with its mandatory provincial pension plan, the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP), after the provincial budget received royal assent at the end of July this year.

“The federal government has consistently refused to commit to an enhancement of the CPP, so Ontario is leading the way with the ORPP,” says Associate Minister of Finance Mitzie Hunter. “Without help, that future is discouraging for many, especially since two-thirds of Ontario workers don’t have access to a workplace pension and many are unable to save enough on their own to provide for a secure retirement.”

The province says the ORPP will:

Provide a predictable stream of income that is indexed to inflation and paid for life in retirement.

Be mandatory for the more than three million Ontarians without a workplace pension plan, and require equal contributions from employees and employers.

Operate at arm’s length from government and be responsible for managing investments associated with annual contributions of approximately $3.5 billion.

Support long-term economic growth as pension payments from the ORPP would help people maintain their standard of living in retirement and continue spending.

Be developed in consultation with pension experts, business, labour, individuals, families and communities across the province in order to ensure that a broad range of perspectives is heard.

The ORPP aims to provide a replacement rate of 15% of an individual’s earnings, up to a maximum annual earnings threshold of $90,000.

Contributions will be shared equally between employers and employees and not exceeding 1.9% each (3.8% combined) on earnings up to a maximum annual earnings threshold of $90,000. The ORPP maximum earnings threshold would increase each year consistent with increases to the CPP’s maximum earnings threshold.

Since the provincial plan is intended to assist individuals most at risk of undersaving, particularly middle-income earners without workplace pensions, those already participating in a comparable workplace pension plan would not be required to enroll in the ORPP.

The ORPP would be introduced in 2017 to coincide with the expected reductions in Employment Insurance premiums.